Fan Dancer Paulette Was Interned In Japan In Recent War

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 November 1949, Page 4

Fan Dancer Paulette Was Interned In Japan In Recent War

To have seen five of her companions killed when the room of the. internment camp they were in received a direct hit from a bomb in Manila was one of the many horrifying experiences of Paulette, the fan dancer, of the Great Levante show, now appearing in Wanganui When the Japanese swooped on Manila after the Pearl Harbour disaster, Paulette was appearing in a cabaret, and, with 4000 other Europeans, was interned in the infamous Santo Tomas internment camp, which ranked only second in atrocities to Belchen, in Germany.

For three and a-half years she. and those of her companions who survived the ordeal of internment, suffered starvation diet, having no fresh milk, tea or sugar in that period. They were only allowed to receive two Red Cross parcels, which contained some tinned corned beef, spam, coffee, and canned milk. With the advance of the Americans the internment camp, for the last three months, was in the front line and subject to frequent bombings by the Japanese. So bad did malnutrition become in the camp in the latter stages that the death-roll averaged 12 a day. The day the camp received a severe bombing from the Japanese, in which her five companions were killed, Paulette had a miraculous escape from death. Had the remaining internees not been rescued when they were a doctor who was in the camp stated that all would have been dead in about a month’s time. Paulette mentioned that among the internees in the camp was “Red” Donald, an Australian who was personal secretary to Chiang Kai-shek. Because of the sufferings he had endured his hair had turned completely white and this saved his life for the Japanese, who were searching for a man of his description, failed to recognise their quarry, who was daily under their supervision.

As a memento of her period in the internment camp when it was in the front line, Paulette has in her possession an Asiatic Pacific Campaign Ribbon, given her by General MacArthur. Along with other Australian internees, Paulette came back to Australia in a convoy, as the war with Japan had not at that time ended. She paid tribute to the excellent assistance given by the AustrnFfln Red Cross, who had done all they eorfd for them on their return. The only monetary assistance given the Australian internees was £25, received from the Pt'd Cross. After a rest. Paulette again entered show business. She is now on her second visit to New Zealand. In 1937 she toured with the Connors and Paul Company, in “Hoit.v Toity.”

One of Paulette’s acts in Australia was a snake dance with six snakes. Because snakes are prohibited from entering New Zealand the act had to be deleted from the New Zealand tour.